Leyte

Leyte ( [ la͡ɪtə ], Spanish [ lɛɪ̯te ] ) is an island of the Philippines and geographically belongs to the central Visaya group.

Leyte was known worldwide by air and sea battle of Leyte Gulf in World War II, which was the largest naval battle in history known in the opinion of most historians.

Geography

The island is from north to south about 180 miles and has a maximum width of 65 km. In the northeast it is separated by the San Juanico Strait from the neighboring island of Samar, which to approach both parts of the country at some points up to 2 km. The island province of Biliran is also located north of Leyte and is separated by the Strait of Biliran Island. In the south of the road separated from Leyte Surigao from the island of Mindanao, while in the east spreads the Gulf of Leyte. Behind the Philippine Sea, part of the Pacific Ocean stretches. The Gulf is surrounded by the island of Leyte in the west of the island province of Dinagat Islands in the southeast and in the north east of Samar. In the southwest, behind the Canigao channel, is the island of Bohol and in the West, on the other side of the Camotes Sea, the island of Cebu.

Leyte has a total area of ​​7368 km ².

Politically, the island is divided into two provinces: Leyte ( province ) and Southern Leyte. At Southern Leyte, which occupies the southern part of the island, the island belongs Panaon that lies in the Strait of Surigao. The island of Biliran in the north was formerly part of the province of Leyte, but now needs a separate island province.

Leyte is very mountainous and forested area far. On the island there are two designated as active volcanoes in the 945 meters and 860 meters high Cabalian high Mahagnao. The most famous lakes of Leyte are the Danao Lake and the Bito Lake. Only in the north- east are larger, agriculturally usable land. The coastline is heavily populated. Flat area sections and river deltas are largely on the coasts of western and southern Leyte or in isolated plateaus of which the Leyte Sab -a Basin is the largest in the northeast of the island. A complex system of small rivers and streams flows through the plane near the Bay of Carigara and the Gulf of Leyte. The second largest lowland area is the Ormoc Valley, which is located on the western side of the island where it is surrounded by mountains.

The main cities in Leyte are Tacloban City on the east coast, Ormoc City and Baybay City on the west coast and Maasin City in the southwest. The San Juanico Bridge connecting Leyte with the neighboring island of Samar. It is the longest bridge in the country and is considered an architectural masterpiece.

Demography and language

The island has a population of 1,950,000 people. It is inhabited by various ethnic groups, the Visayan and Cebuano who live mainly in the west and south and the Waray that inhabit the east and north.

In the same way, the language areas are distributed. While in the south and west of the dialect prevails Cebuano, Waray Waray - is the native language of the people in the east and north of the island. Besides English, Tagalog and Chinese are also widely used communication possibilities.

The majority of the population is dominated Christian and belongs to the Roman Catholic faith. Other denominations are the Aglipayan, the Iglesia ni Cristo, Jehovah 's Witnesses and Seventh- day Adventists.

History

Long before the arrival of Europeans, the Filipinos already talked trade relations with China and other neighboring countries. On March 28, 1521, the Portuguese navigator and explorer Ferdinand Magellan found a passage way, which eventually led him past the island of Leyte. A little later he reached the island Limasawa at the southern tip of the isle. Here he met the local ruler Rajah Kolambu and his brother Rajah Siagu, the chief of Butu ( Mindanao ). In this place, the first treaty of friendship in the form of a blood brotherhood between Magellan and Rajah Kolambu was closed, and held the first Christian mass. Then placed Magellan a cross on the top of the hill and took through this symbolic act, the entire territory for Spain.

The discoverer Ruy López de Villalobos reached in 1543, the first European to the actual island region of Leyte and named the island " Las Islas Felipinas " according to the Spanish throne, later King Philip II of Spain.

In 1595 the Jesuits established their first mission on Leyte. At this time, only 19 were pueblos with a population of 70,000 people on the island, which was converted to Christianity by missionaries.

A royal decree, issued on July 31, 1860, ordered a reorganization of the provincial government of the entire Visayas group. Leyte was then classified as a third class province and had management responsibility for a total of 28 pueblos and villages. The political-military structure of government existed until the end of Spanish rule in 1898.

With the mission to liberate the Philippines from the Japanese Army, General Douglas MacArthur led one of the largest fleets of transport and warships in the history of the United States to the coast of Leyte. On 20 October 1944, the armed forces landed under the leadership McArthur and escort the President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, Sergio Osmeña and Carlos P. Romulo, in Palo, Leyte, to begin the liberation of the country. The landing point at which General McArthur, the traditional words "I have returned" (Eng. I have returned ) exclaimed, today is one of the most significant memorial of the island nation. Furthermore, it came to the Japanese counter-offensive that. During the Battle of Leyte and finally into the largest naval battle in history, the sea and air battle culminated in the Gulf of Leyte Not less than 212 Allied ships met about 60 combat ships of the Japanese Navy, including the large battleships Yamato and Musashi.

Economy

Most important economic activities are the cultivation of maize, rice, sugarcane, abaca and coconut trees. In the south, the planting and processing of abaca most important economic factor.

Many craft shops make from the abaca fiber manufactures textiles and ropes. Other craft industries to process bamboo and wood products. Besides are tourism, as well as fisheries and forestry, the relevant livelihoods of local people.

Climate

On the island is dominated by two climate categories. The East is characterized by the type II climate, which is characterized by very heavy rainfall from November to January. The western part belongs to the climatic type IV, the rainy days can occur throughout the year, more or less.

Attractions

• The Leyte Landing Memorial in Red Beach, Palo, marks the point at which the liberation troops entered the island of Leyte. In a lagoon stands a life-size statue that gene. McArthur maps and his men as they wade through the ankle- deep water to land.
• Situated 640 meters above sea level Danao Lake, he is like an outline of a violin. The lake is located 10 km northeast of Ormoc City in Lake Danao Natural Park. It is home to many wild animals, including the Rotohreule and Streifenuhus.
• The Sto. Nino Shrine and the folklore museum with a flat image that represents the legend of the first Filipino man and woman first ( Malakas and Maganda ).
• The San Juanico Bridge is the longest bridge in the Philippines and architecturally attractive. It spans the San Juanico Strait between Leyte and Samar.
• The Kuapnit Balinsasayaw National Park
• Cuatro Islas Protected Landscape / Seascape

Diving

Diving is still a relatively new source of revenue for the island. In Südleyte to Padre Burgos / Macrohon is possible to dive with whale sharks. During the months of January to April organized trips with Dive Centers are offered on site in Südleyte. The reefs in Südleyte are mostly in very good condition, and biodiversity is enormous. A special attraction is the belonging to the town of San Francisco in Southern Leyte Napantao whose underwater world invites both for snorkeling as well as for compressed air diving.